FAQ - English

Can I purchase tickets in advance?

Yes. DC-2, DC-3, DC-4 and DC-5 tickets may be purchased up to seven consecutive days in advance for mid-day and evening drawings. POWERBALL®, Mega Millions® and Lucky for Life® tickets may be purchased in advance for 1,2,4,6,8,10,12,14,16,18, and 20 consecutive draws.

Where can I get winning numbers information?

Mid-day and evening drawings can be viewed on the DC Lottery website. Players also have the option of calling the DC Lottery’s Lott Line at (202) 678-3333 for winning numbers and can have winning numbers forwarded to their mobile devices. Winning numbers are also posted on DC Lottery social media pages including Twitter (@dclottery) and Facebook, and at DC Lottery retailer locations.

Can I view drawings for DC Lottery games?

Yes. The drawing process for DC Lottery games is transparent and open to the public for viewing. To schedule, please contact Customer Service at 202-645-8000 or email your request to info@dclottery.com.

Where does the money generated by the Lottery go?

Money generated by the DC Lottery is used for the operation, administration, and capital expenses of the games operated and licensed by the DC Lottery. The majority of the money is transferred to the General Fund for the District of Columbia. More information.

How do I claim a prize? And, can winners remain anonymous?

In the District of Columbia, specific lottery winner information is public record.

What happens if I should die prior to receiving all my lottery winnings?

Lottery winnings are payable to the winner's designated beneficiary or estate. In some cases, for the POWERBALL® game, the estate may petition the DC Lottery's Executive Director for the acceleration and lump sum payment of the remaining prize amount at current market value.

What happens to unclaimed prizes?

All prizes must be claimed within 180 days from the date of the drawing, 180 days from the official close of an instant Scratch ticket game or a lesser period authorized by the Executive Director for bonus games or drawings. Unclaimed prizes are transferred to the to the General Fund of the District of Columbia.

How much tax will I have to pay on my winnings?

All lottery winnings are considered income and as such are taxed according to the applicable Federal, District, state and local laws. The lottery cannot estimate your tax responsibility or answer questions about Federal, District, state or local exemptions or tax calculations. You may want to consult a tax professional, government tax office, financial adviser or other appropriate professional for answers to your tax questions.

Are lottery prizes taxable?

Federal Taxes

DC Lottery winnings paid to residents of other jurisdictions may be subject to Federal income taxes and to state and local taxes, depending on the requirements of the resident jurisdiction. Lottery winnings of $600 or more are reported to the Internal Revenue Service in accordance with Federal regulations.

For winnings of more than $5,000, the DC Lottery withholds 24 percent of lottery winnings for Federal income taxes. Federal tax withholding rates are subject to change in accordance with Internal Revenue Service regulations.

District Taxes

DC Lottery winnings paid to DC residents may be subject to District of Columbia (District) taxes, depending on winnings. Lottery winnings that exceed $600 are reported to the District Office of Tax and Revenue in accordance with District regulations. For winnings of more than $5,000 the DC Lottery withholds District income taxes in accordance with DC Tax and Revenue regulations and District Law.

Non-District Residents

DC Lottery winnings paid to non-DC residents of more than $5,000 may be subject to Federal income taxes and to state and local taxes depending on the requirements of the resident jurisdiction.

Foreign Persons

DC Lottery winnings paid to a foreign person are subject to 30 percent withholding under sections 1441(a) and 1442(a) of the Internal Revenue Code and are reportable to the Internal Revenue Service.

Are there any other deductions withheld?

Possibly. If you owe delinquent child support payments, the DC Lottery may be required to withhold the amount owed. The DC Lottery provides a direct linkage to the District of Columbia Child Support Enforcement Division. Child Support taken from your lottery winnings is for monies owed pursuant to a court order and is not refundable.

If you feel deductions from your winnings were erroneously taken, please contact the DC Child Support Enforcement Division at (202) 442-9900.

How can I get another copy of my IRS Form W-2G?

The DC Lottery issues a W-2G at the same time it issues a check for a lottery winning of $600.00 or more. To obtain an additional copy of your form, please contact us and specify that you would like to request a copy of IRS Form W-2G and the DC Lottery's Office of Financial Services will process your request.

Can more than one person share a prize?

Prizes won on a single DC Lottery ticket are paid to a single legal entity. That entity may be one individual or one organization.

However, there may be more than one jackpot ticket. In those cases, winners share prizes equally.

What happens if I lose a winning ticket?

The DC Lottery is not responsible for lost or stolen tickets. You should sign the back of your ticket in ink and take appropriate measures to safeguard it. Unless signed, anyone in possession of the ticket may file a claim.

Can lottery tickets be purchased by mail or through the Internet?

Tickets are ONLY available for purchase at authorized DC Lottery Agent Locations.

Does the lottery offer Second Chance Drawing assistance to the visually impaired?

The DC Lottery has updated its website to alert the public that we have installed laptops at both the Claim Center and Union Station, for visually impaired individuals to enter into our 2nd chance drawings. If a player has won, he/she will be notified directly through the contact information they provided upon entering the drawing.